Retinue of the Minister of Water 下元水官圖

Object Details

• Artist

  Attributed to He Cheng 何澄 (1224-after 1315)

• Label

  To learn more about this and similar objects, visit http://www.asia.si.edu/SongYuan/default.asp Song and Yuan Dynasty Painting and Calligraphy.

• Provenance

  To 1917

  Probably Wanyan Jingxian (circa 1848 - circa 1927-29), Beijing, to 1917 [1]

  From 1917 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), probably purchased from Wanyan Jingxian, through Seaouke Yue (You Xiaoxi) (late 19th-early 20th century), Shanghai, and Pang Lai Chen (Pang Yuanji) (1864-1949), Shanghai, in Detroit in 1917 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Ingrid Larsen, "'Don’t Send Ming or Later Pictures': Charles Lang Freer and the First Major Collection of Chinese Painting in an American Museum," Ars Orientalis vol. 40 (2011), pg. 28 and pg. 38 (notes 146 and 147), Pang Yuanji and Seaouke Yue were paid a commission by Charles Lang Freer for facilitating the sale of five objects (F1917.183- .187) belonging to a "Peking gentleman." Larsen presents evidence and infers that Wanyan Jingxian was likely the unnamed Peking gentleman. See also, Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 1179, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  This object exhibits seals, colophons, or inscriptions that could provide additional information regarding the object’s history; see Curatorial Remarks in the object record for further details.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Daoism in the Arts in China (December 16, 2006 to July 1, 2007)

  Masterpieces of Chinese Painting (III) (May 29, 1999 to January 30, 2000)

  Chinese Figure Painting (September 17, 1973 to January 3, 1975)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Wanyan Jingxian (ca. 1848-ca. 1927-29) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Jingxian, Wanyan

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Water, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Baimiao style, Daoism, Chinese Art, Demon, Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368), Shuiguan

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings